Geranium named Americana Coral

ABSTRACT

A new Geranium plant particularly distinguished by its coral colored semi-double flowers which are borne on sturdy upright stems. Each flower cluster consists of about 25 to 30 florets, each of which has a diameter of about 4 to 4.5 cm.; the color of the flower changing little with age. The plant itself is vigorous, free flowering and fast-rooting, growing to a height of 13 to 16 cm. as a 51/2 inch potted plant.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Geranium,botanically known as Pelargonium hortorum Bailey. The new cultivar ispropagated from a seedling resulting from the cross of: a seed parentthat is scarlet colored with a semi-double flower form that wasdeveloped at Goldsmith Seeds and is known as 996-2 and a pollen parentthat is an inbred line that is rose colored, single flower known asKR07-3.

This new Geranium is a product of a planned breeding program intended tocreate new Geranium cultivars with coral colored flowers, semi-doubleflower form, green foliage, vigorous growth and superior cuttingproductivity.

The new cultivar was created in 1987 in Gilroy, Calif., and has beenrepeatedly asexually reproduced by cuttings in Gilroy, Calif., andGuatemala over a three year period. It has also been trialed at Okemos,Mich. It has been found to retain its distinctive characteristicsthrough successive propagations; and this novelty appears to be firmlyfixed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Geranium plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographicdrawing which shows blooms, buds, and foliage of the plant in fullcolor, the colors shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of this new geranium cultivar. The data which definesthese characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carriedout in Gilroy, Calif. The plant history was taken on 20 week old plants,blossomed under natural light in a greenhouse. Color readings were takenin the greenhouse on May 29, 1990 at 2P.M. under ambient light. Colorreferences are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London (R.H.S.).

THE PLANT

Classification:

Botanical.--Pelargonium hortorum Bailey.

Commercial.--Zonal geranium.

Form: Intermediate height bush.

Height: 13 to 16 cm., as a 51/2 inch pot plant, excluding blooms.

Growth: Vigorous, well branched.

Strength: Free flowering plant that does well in greenhouse and outdoorfield culture. Good shipping ability as rooted or unrooted cuttings.

Foliage: Abundant quantity.

Leaves:

Size.--Diameter about 6-8 cm.

Shape.--Rounded cordate with occasional upfolding between veins.

Margin.--Irregularly crenate.

Texture.--Leathery and pubescent on both surfaces, especially alongveins.

Ribs and veins.--Distinctly palmate, 4 to 5 cm. long.

Color.--Upper side: Green. Underside: Lighter green color. Ribs andveins not prominently different from upper surface.

Petioles: About 4 to 7 cm. in length.

THE BUD

Size:

Diameter.--About 6 mm.

Length.--About 1.4 cm. to 1.9 cm. at time of bud opening.

Shape: Pointed ovoid.

Color: Of petals when sepals first divided, RHS 57-B.

Sepals: Five in number, flat behind petals, Pointed linear lanceolate,RHS 143-C in an open flower.

THE FLOWER

Blooming habit: Continuous throughout the year.

Size: Approximately 4-4.5 cm. diameter, 1.0 cm. deep, irregularlyradially symmetrical.

Form: Irregularly shaped when bloom first opens, later flattening withmaturity.

Petals: Five to nine imbricate outer petals (mostly five), 1.5-2.0 cm.wide and approximately 2.1-2.3 cm. long, Four to six inner smallerpetaloids of varying shape. Both the outer petals and inner petaloidsare coral, RHS 43-B. Veins not significantly different from theinterveinal regions. Color changing little with age. Underside of petalsmuch lighter in color and exhibiting white striations and white patches.Petals and petaloids soft and satiny.

Pedicel: Approximately 2.3 cm. in length.

Persistence: Nonshattering flower.

INFLORESCENSE

Type: An umbel composed of approximately 25-30 flowers, erect orlaterally ascending.

Peduncle: Approximately 10.5-12 cm. in length; color: green RHS 143C.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens:

Anthers.--Six to eight positioned below the mature stigma, dull redprior to anthesis.

Filaments.--White near base and mid length, graduating to a red stripeon the outer edges starting at the center of the filaments extending tothe anther.

Pollen.--Orange in color.

Pistil:

Number.--One.

Length.--Approximately 7 mm.

Stigma: Five (sometimes six) linear lobes of near equal length, curlingback toward ovary, purplish-red.

Style:

Length.--About 3mm., color: purplish red.

Ovaries: At anthesis, densely pubescent with white hairs, oblong, Greendrying to a light brown at maturity.

Fruit: Partially fertile.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Geranium cultivar substantially as hereinshown and described characterized by green foliage with coral-coloredsemi-double flowers on large umbels, the plant being fast-rooting andhaving a vigorous growth habit.